Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: We present infrared (IR) spectra from our monitoring of the symbiotic Mira, R Aquarii, using the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. New mid-IR photometric and spectroscopic observations using the FORCAST instrument were obtained in 2022 September, when the system was well into the eclipse phase. The 10 μm silicate feature has increased in strength since the previous observations, obtained in 2019 October. Radiative transfer models of the emission show that the dust density has increased by a factor of about 2 in this period. Three epochs of far-IR photometric observations obtained with the HAWC+ instrument between 2018 July and 2020 September are also presented here. The emission at the sampled wavelength bands ranging from 53 to 214 μm does not vary significantly, in contrast to the mid-IR silicate dust emission that shows large variations. The models suggest that the far-IR emission arises much further out in the circumstellar dust shell and is not affected by the dynamics in the inner regions that impact the mid-IR emission.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,499
OpenAlex ID: W4410131541